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Regional Security Officer

Istanbul

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Istanbul
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Security and Safety
  • Closing Date: Closed

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objective of the Division of Business Operations (BOS) is to support the work of the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) through delivery of services within the areas of human resources, finance, contracting and procurement, legal advice, information & communications technology, printing, security, facilities management, fixed assets, conference support, travel and transport, and staff wellness and well-being. As an enabling function, the division enhances the productivity of the health technical programmes and country offices while at the same time overseeing accountability, transparency and compliance with WHO administrative rules and regulations. The BOS division strives to strengthen the capacity of WHO/Europe to react in an agile way to external and internal changes. The division projects are designed to increase productivity, ensure financial sustainability of the region’s structures, reinforce a client-oriented culture, strengthen country office capacities, and drive strategic initiatives to enhance staff motivation and well-being.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

By consistently delivering the highest quality of service, incumbent aims to ensure the security and safety of all Regional and Country Offices staff to enable the efficient and effective implementation of all WHO/EURO programmes and activities.

Within the framework of WHO's Security Management Structure (SMS) the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Strategic planning and guidance to senior management:

  • Advise the WHO/EURO Director BOS, Regional Director and HWCOs on relevant strategic, contextual, or operational issues that may have an impact on the safety and security of WHO personnel, operations, and assets.

  • Provide relevant technical and strategic analysis on potential threats/risks to personnel/programs and ensure that appropriate safety/security information is disseminated to the EURO local security professionals and all mission/program managers and their personnel.

  • Undertake security missions to countries within the Region to become familiar with national context and specific situations, and advise the WHO/EURO Director BOS, the Regional Director and WRs on specific issues that have security implications, inclusive of political aspects/analysis.

Assessments, Operational Guidance, Risk Management, Compliance:

  • Promote inclusion of security in all relevant processes and practices for informed decision-making and risk mitigation.

  • Continuously assess security compliance and alignment with corporate processes at all levels to implement, optimize and prioritize remedial actions/efforts in adherence with the UNSMS and the UN 'Framework of Accountability' document, regarding safety/security matters that will impact EURO operations and programs.

  • Maintain an overview and ensure adherence by all WHO EURO personnel to the UNDSS Travel Request Information Process (TRIP), the Movement of Personnel (MOP) procedures, and the UN security clearance policy.

  • Effectively contribute to the development of a global and Regional WHO security strategy, policies and guidance to ensure optimal security presence, capacity and activity to promote the safety and security of all WHO personnel, assets and operations.

  • Apply effective risk and crisis management principles and procedures for developing situations, including responding to security emergencies.

  • Support Country Offices to meet their security reporting requirements.

  • Undertake missions to assist WHO/EURO personnel operating in higher risk areas to advise them on how best to deal with the very serious security/safety problems which confront them on daily basis.

  • Be accountable for the development and maintenance of the regional office medevac/relocation/evacuation plans and their implementation during crisis situation.

Represent WHO in collaboration with UN and other security-related partners:

  • Participate as is practical in the development and review of the SRM in the Region, SRMM, Residential Security Measures, and security planning, providing oversight for implementation if required.

  • Represent WHO in Regional and National inter-agency meetings and promote information sharing with UNDSS, other UN security officers, and relevant security personnel from other organizations in the Region.

  • Establish and maintain effective working exchanges and relationships with security officials of other international organizations, regional government counterparts and partner security services, United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) offices globally and all appropriate security focal points, to ensure that up-to-date security-related information is available for EURO personnel.

Lead security officer for the non-government-controlled areas (NGCA) of countries in the EURO region:

  • Conduct assessments of NGCAs to identify risk concerns and propose mitigation measures; advise country offices on actions needed to ensure safety and security of personnel in those regions.

  • Monitor personnel movements; security information from UNDSS, media, and other sources; and WHO sitreps to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the situation on-the-ground and potential forthcoming events or other concerns.

  • Lead the WHO security-related actions needed in NGCAs in emergency situations, representing WHO with UNDSS and advising the HWCOs and other senior managers on required actions.

Lead the regional security network:

  • Establish regional and country-level security structures and capacities. Review the security and safety situations in all EURO areas of operations and decide on measures for improvements.

  • Manage a Regional security network among WHO personnel with security responsibilities, providing leadership and mentorship where necessary. Actively support and equip personnel with security responsibilities with an appropriate and clear understanding of operational and support functions and resources to efficiently support their responsibilities.

  • In the absence of security professionals and the appointment of a Security Focal Point (SFP) in a country programme, ensure there is enough support from Regional security network to ensure that effective security management policies are applied.

Training and awareness building for personnel:

  • Be responsible for the initial briefing and on-going security-related training in EURO to ensure that all personnel are kept abreast of matters affecting their security. Decide on security training needs for the Region and oversee a training programme to ensure Country Offices’ ability to deliver on their safety and security objectives. Provide security training for personnel at both Regional Office and field levels.

  • Ensure all EURO personnel have a working knowledge of the UN Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM), Residential Security Measures (RSM) and other applicable security policies and standard operating procedures, including an understanding of various UNDSS evacuation/emergency and security plans.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Educational:

Essential: Master’s degree in business administration, political/social science, international relations, or law enforcement with a focus on security management, risk management and/or related discipline. Alternatively, a military or police academy degree (at officer level) equivalent to advanced university degree, with qualifying relevant experience, will be accepted.

A relevant first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree

Desirable: Successful completion of a Command and/or General Staff course at a recognized military/police Staff College would be an asset

Experience:

Essential: At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in security management, crisis management and a strong background in political and security analysis in a regional context. Experience working in crisis and humanitarian response locations enabling programme delivery is required.

Desirable: Previous UN professional experience as Field Security Officer/Adviser. Experience in the development of global and regional security operations strategy and supporting policies and guidance. Experience in the monitoring and evaluation of security operations activities to assess and inform the improvement of activity impact. Experience in leading multi-functional and cross-geographic teams.

Language Skills:

Required: Expert knowledge of English

Desirable: working/intermediate knowledge of either French, Russian or German.

Competencies:

  • Teamwork

  • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

  • Communication

  • Setting an example

  • Ensuring effective use of resources

  • Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Skills:

  • Sound understanding of personnel and facilities security-related principles, operations, risk assessment, and risk mitigation measures.

  • Analytical and team-working skills.

  • Very good knowledge of all communication means used in the field: HF, VHF, satellite phones, RB-GAN.

  • Strategic planning and advising senior management.

  • Leadership and management skills.

  • Relevant security training with military or police is an asset.

  • Knowledge of UN field security operations is an asset.

  • Emotional Intelligence: ability to identify and harness one’s emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one’s own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 90,664 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1791 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test may be used as a form of screening.
  • In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
  • Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
  • WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
  • WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/ . Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
  • Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented member states are particularly encouraged.
  • For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-manual III. 4.1, para 220.
This vacancy is now closed.
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